Antenatal checkup are visits to monitor BOTH mother and baby’s health during the pregnancy period.  Every visit to your doctor is VERY IMPORTANT because it allows your doctor to treat any potential health issues early to prevent complications later on during pregnancy or at child birth.

Booking (1st) Visit

Booking visit is the first visit made to a clinic to see a doctor for antenatal check up.  This the most important visit and should be done as soon as you are confirmed to be pregnant (you can self test using a Urine Pregnancy Test which you can buy from your local pharmacy).  The recommended time for this visit is when you are less than 12 weeks pregnant.

Please share the following information with your doctor at the visit

• Your period pattern (whether regular or heavy and how long it lasts)
• Date of the first day of your Last Menstrual Period (LMP)
• Your past Medical or Surgical history
• Any relevant family history of illness or inherited diseases
• Any medication you are currently taking
• Any allergy to medications
• Any alcohol or drug usage
• Your previous pregnancies (if any) such as at how many weeks was the baby delivered, how was the baby delivered and the birth weight.  Do share any difficulties you experienced during your previous pregnancies

You may be informed of the Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) at the booking visit although the dates may be revised during your subsequent visits.

At each visit, the following (or more) tests will be done

• Weight
• Blood pressure
• Blood test (to check for Blood and Rhesus type, Haemoglobin, Glucose, Liver and Kidney function as well as excluding any pre-existing infections)
• Urine test (to check for infection, sugar and protein in the urine)
• General body check

Ultrasound of the uterus and pelvis is to check;

• Uterus shape and anatomy
• Location of pregnancy
• Number of foetus
• Size, weight and subsequent growth of the baby

Frequency of Antenatal Visits

This is only a guide for how often you should see your doctor but some of you may require more frequent visits if your doctor is worried about your health or your baby’s growth

• Below 28 weeks (once a month)
• 28-35 weeks (every 2 weeks)
• 36 weeks till term (every week)

During each antenatal visit, both you and your baby will be assessed and monitored. Your baby’s growth and development will be monitored by the following measurements;

• Your fundal height (size of your tummy)
• Your weight gain during each visit
• Ultrasound scan to measure your baby’s growth, size, weight and position
• Baby’s heart rate
• Cardiotocography (CTG)
• Foetal movement charting (you may be asked to count the frequency of your baby’s kicking)

Other Special Tests

• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or Modified Glucose Tolerance Test (MGTT) may be offered to you at around 12 weeks and again at 24-28 weeks pregnancy if you are at risk of Gestational Diabetes
• Ultrasound scan (with the option of blood screening such as PAPP-A, free Beta HCG or NIPT) for Down’s syndrome during the 1st Trimester
• Ultrasound to detect foetal anomaly or heart abnormalities is usually done during the 2nd Trimester

Vaccinations during Pregnancy

Vaccinations may be recommended during pregnancy to protect you and your baby.  They include;

• Influenza vaccine (protection against flu)
• Tdap or Tetanus, Diphtheria and acellular Pertussis vaccine (protection against Whooping Cough)

Please keep your antenatal visits with your gynae doctor and discuss any health concerns you may have at each visit

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Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. 

If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.